The dangers of cadmium, metal against which doctors sound the alarm – Liberation

« The State must act. » In a letter addressed to the government on Monday June 2, the Regional unions of Liberal Health Professionals (URPS) want to put the public authorities before their responsibilities. For years, scientific studies have followed one another, pointing to the dangers of the population exposure to a metal called cadmium, mainly via diet and fertilizers. Between kidney damage, reproductive effects or carcinogenic risks, there are many potential misdeeds. « The state can no longer ignore this problem », Can we read in this letter, consulted by Release.

In order to limit risks, the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Labor Safety (ANSES) recommended from 2019 Reduce the authorized cadmium concentration to 20 milligrams per maximum kilogram in fertilizers, against 60 milligrams currently. A proposal that has never resulted in the public authorities, regret the doctors, who are waiting today that measures are taken: « Several European countries have already adopted this value. »

« An explosion of the contamination of young children indeed exists, in relation to their diet – in particular cereals, breads and derivatives and potatoes and related, which are foods of everyday life », still alert health professionals. Origins of cadmium, health risks, foods concerned … Release take stock.

What is cadmium and that is exposed to it?

Cadmium is a metal naturally found in the floors. Its presence can be accentuated by metallurgy processes, the incineration of waste or the use of fertilizers.

The entire population is exposed there, mainly through food and tobacco. Since it is present in the soils, this metal enters the plants by their roots and therefore ends up on certain foodstuffs. The foods that contain the most are the offs, such as liver and kidneys, algae, crustaceans and molluscs and, to a lower degree, chocolate.

In France, the majority of the cadmium intake is caused by the ingestion of cereals such as rice and wheat, breads, cookies and potatoes, products widely consumed by the French. Smokers and those around them are also particularly exposed, via the inhalation of cigarette smoke.

According to data from the National Food, Environment and Labor Health Safety Agency (ANSES) published in 20110.6 % of adults have food exhibitions exceeding the daily dose of tolerable cadmium for the body (0.35 cadmium microgram per kilogram of body weight). Children aged 3 to 17 are 14 % to be overexposed, a figure that rises to 36 % among those under 3 years of age.

What are the risks to health?

The list of dangers awarded to cadmium is long. This metal is recognized carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic for reproduction. Prolonged exposure can cause a risk of osteoporosis – a disease that weakens bones -, but also fractures. It can also cause renal damage and have effects on the reproduction and development of the fetus in pregnant women.

Other more serious effects are also pointed out by scientists. To date, the only cancer for which there is sufficient evidence of a higher risk is « Bronchopulmonary cancer, after professional exposure to dust or cadmium smoke », specifies the High Authority for Health (HAS) in a Recommendation dated October 2024. But, according to several studiescadmium is also suspected of being carcinogenic for the kidney, liver, prostate or even pancreas.

How to diagnose an overexposure to cadmium?

A overexposure to cadmium can be diagnosed thanks to an urine analysis, prescribed by a doctor. However, this examination is not reimbursed by health insurance to date, and represents a cost « About forty euros on average », Esides Pierre Souvet, cardiologist and president of the Health Environment France association (ASEF). A test that should be carried out if « A risk is identified », specifies the doctor. « What we do by asking the patient’s questions about his eating habits or his tobacco consumption. »

If an excessive presence of cadmium is identified in the urine, specific monitoring is set up, as explained by Pierre Souvet: “We must redouble vigilance on certain cancers, on the cardiovascular risks that increase and bone diseases. We enter into a logic of associated risks screening, as we do for a person who has cholesterol. ”

What behaviors to adopt to limit risks?

First of all, healthcare professionals expect from the government that it lowers the limit of authorized cadmium concentration in fertilizers. If this measure passed, stabilization of contamination would then take several decades, estimates ANSES. Faced with this period, regional unions of Liberal health professionals call for the development of training for all liberal doctors on the subject, but also to the creation of information sheets to inform patients. « We must educate the entire population », ABONS Pierre Souvet.

Other tracks mentioned: adaptation of menus in canteens, facilitation of access to dosage of cadmium, but also support for organic farming, whose levels of contamination are 48 % lower than traditional farming according to The Baranski study Released in 2014. On their scale, consumers can adapt their eating behavior. URPS recommend reducing the consumption of certain foods rich in cadmium, without completely deleting them.